The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-16
FROM A COMMONPLACE BOOK.

Bacon, PHILOSOPHY oF-The true scientific
procedure is by hypothesis, followed up and
tested by verif1cation; the most powerful instru-
ment is the deductive method, which Bacon can
hardly be said to have recognized. There
is room for the scientific IF the Imagination,
and for the creative flashes ef genius.-Ency.
Brit.
The process of Lord Bacon was we believe,
never tried by any philosopher but himself. AS
the subject of its application he selected that Of
heat With his usual erudition. he collected all
the facts which science could supply; he ar
ranged them in tables; he cross-questioned them
with all the subtlety of a pleader; he combined
them all with the sagacity of q judge; and he
conjured with them by all the magic of his ex-
elusive processes. But, after all this display of
physical logic, nature thus Intercepted was still
silent The oracle which he had himself estab-
llshed refused to give its responses, and the
ministering priest was driven with discontinue
from his own shrine.-Brewster.
lord BYRoN-It is not ''Don Juan" only or
chiefly that I think SO mschievous, but MAN
fred. "Cain, )" 'Lucifer," ''Childe Harold" and,
through them all. Byron's own spirit-the de-
spoEdent. defiant, questioning, murmuring, Bit
ter, proud spirit that acts powerfully and dan
geronsly on young brains. and throws poison
into their natural rmentation.-Mrs Kemble.
In his don Juan" his descriptions Of sensual
love. which assuredly go very far. formed the
principal ground of complaint Byron, in reply
to this. appeals to TON Jones, Frederick Ran
OOM, IeCeRF1D0 flckl6, ana many OE1eES, anu
said the soul of such writing is its license"
Goethe declares Don Juan" to be the most i'm
moral work which poetic art ever produced.
Life of Byron by Elze.
BUDDHISM is the Professionalism Of the East.
Brahmansm. like the Church of Rome, estab
lished system of sacramental salvation in the
hands OF sacred order Buddhism. like
Professionalism, rev0lted and established a doc
trine of individual salvation based on personal
oh ;r TAD xho; "a h.~s~n
ity against the oppression Of priestly caste.
Brahmanism. like the Church of Rome, teaches
an exclusive spirituaism clarifying penances
and martyEdom. and considers the boGy the
enemy Of the SOUL Buddhism and Professionalism
accept nature and its laws, and make a religion
of humanity as we'll as of devotion. The Church
OF Rome makes the sermon subordinate 70 the
mass; in Professionalism and in Buddhism SER
mons arc the main instruments by which souls
are saved In the Church of Rome, as in Brah-
mansm, the priestlv caste is made distinct and
supreme. In Buddhism and Professionalism the
laity regain their rights.-Atlantic Monthly.
BuDDHA-Buddhas seems TO have been one
of those natures. reflective, introvertive, rest
less, for which the problems of the spiritual
life have an Importance transcendine all out
ward interests. and which are lmpelled to seek
the solution of these problems by an imperious
inward necessity In whatever form the object
of spiritual inquiry presents ltself-whether as
the search for truth. or for the meaning and
end of human life. or for the explanation OF its
moral contradictions and anomalies or for saliva
ton from sin, and sorrow. and death-for such
natures there is no rest till the inward perplex-
ity and anxiety are removed. He sought in
vain for spiritual satisfaction, first by philo-
sophie thought and. secondly, by ascetic aus
terities. At length he discovered that salvation,
happiness, blessedness good, call it what
you will, which is the end or goal of human
life-consists, not In outward condition, but in
inward character; and is to be sought, not in a
future heaven, which is the arbitrary reward of
pesy, but, here hereafter in superiority to all
selfish desires and passions, in the in ward heaven
of the spiritual mind.-John Card.